Vitamin D deficiency is classified under ICD-10-CM code E55, which requires specifying the manifestation. Common billable codes include E55.0 (rickets, active) and E55.9 (vitamin D deficiency, unspecified).
Primary codes
Billable
Billable
Extension
—
7th character
—
POA exempt
No
Inclusion terms
- Avitaminosis D
Coding risks
- Coding based on lab values alone without provider interpretation
Hierarchy
Code comparison
Compare key differences between related codes to select the most specific option.
Select the most specific code supported by the encounter documentation. More specific codes improve reimbursement accuracy and reduce audit risk.
Code ranges
Vitamin D deficiency
Category covering rickets, osteomalacia, and unspecified vitamin D deficiency states in children and adults.
Other nutritional deficiencies
Parent block for vitamin and mineral deficiencies excluding protein-calorie malnutrition and sequelae of nutritional disorders.
Vitamin A deficiency
Category for vitamin A deficiency with ocular manifestations such as xerosis, keratomalacia, and night blindness.
Adult osteomalacia
Category for adult osteomalacia from various causes including drug-induced, postsurgical, and senile forms.
Disorders of phosphorus metabolism
Category covering hypophosphatemia, familial hypophosphatemia, and other disorders of phosphorus and phosphatases.
Coding risks
Avoid these common coding issues when reporting Vitamin D Deficiency.
Impact
Assigning E55.9 without explicit deficiency language may miscode borderline low levels as a confirmed deficiency diagnosis.
Mitigation
Consider querying the provider when only lab values appear rather than inferring deficiency from numeric results alone.
Related codes
Ancillary and co-coding
Codes commonly reported with the primary diagnosis on the same claim.
Z-code variants
Family history, personal history, or screening encounter codes related to this condition.
In pregnancy
Pregnancy-specific O-code adaptations used in place of the primary when the condition occurs during or complicates pregnancy.
Differential codes
Alternative or commonly confused codes to consider when documentation suggests a different condition than the primary diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
Use E55.9 only when documentation lacks any manifestation. If rickets or osteomalacia is documented, assign the specific code instead.
References
Compiled from the following authoritative coding references. Last updated 2026-08-04.